Tooth brushes



Dec. 16, 1958 c. Ro'rcElG TOOTH BRUSHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 mfom w S m. n. N .m h l Q E." m N Q w o e, n N w WSM\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ n m m u C. ROTCEIG TOOTH BRUSHES Dec. 16, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 M31 rv United States atie 'il E.

lThis invention relates to brushes, and more particularly, tooth brushes, and it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved tooth brush thatwillvbe adapted to assume either one of atjleast two different configurations in the brushing portionjthereof in accordance with the'users corrvenienceor` preference.

Depending on the conformation of ones dentition, and/or the tooth-brushing habits one has acquiredl over the years, individual preferences may go to the use of a toothbrush having a concave, a flat or a convex brushing surface. For this reason tooth brushes are available on the market wherein the outer surface 0f the bristles has been cut to correspondingly different shapes. It is one object of my invention to accomplish a similar result with a single brush construction.Y v A more specific object is to provide a tooth brush having meansV for quickly and'easily altering the configuration of the brushing surface, as from flat to convex andfvice Versa.

A further object is to provide such a brush in which the natural tendency of the bristles to diverge'when the brush isset to its convex configuration, is counteracted. It is` also an object to provide an improved tooth brush construction in which the actual brushing assembly is quickly and easily removable from ythe holding of sup'- porting structure, while being vfirmly and reliably bonded thereto so as to prevent its comingapartduring a tooth brushing operation. The abcv'efand'furtherv objects and advantages ofy theinv'enti'on willappear a's the disclosure proceeds. n

In one forni of embodiment, I may provide a` toothbrush c'orrlprising a' holder orV handle portion'harin'g a longitudinal groove therein'and aresiliently` flexible strip or rod slidable in: saidgroove, said rod supporting the brush portion'of the tooth'briishassenbly on one end thereof and said rod being slidable relatively to said holder between a in'ormalpsi'tion' wherein said brushing portion4V has" a first-4e. gl Aflatconfiguration, and a stressed position-wherein said brushingfprtion has a second--e; g.' convexl-coriguration." Y

Anexe'rhplary embodiment of the' invention willfnow be described foi-purposes of illustration'bufnot of limitation; with reference to the accompanying" drawings, whereinn p l Fig. l4 is a diagrammatic"longitudinal section of my improved tooth brushin' Iitstia't or normal condition;

Fig. Z is a similar: diagrammatic viewofthebrush in convex or stressed condition;

Fig; 4 is 'a" perspective' view'o'fthe holder'asseinbly ir`1- cluding the grooved base or handle` member for" the exibi strip or rod sli'dable in'sai'd'grooveiand adapted to mount th'ebristles on one end thereof;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, onan enlarged scale, of a portion of the bristlersupporting"assembly in its convex condition; p

`Fig. 6 isfa similar View of analternative construction; and

Fig. 7 isa perspective showing of the construction of ice l. Fig. 6. Figs; 8 and 9 are diagrammatic sectional views Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and' 9 are diagrammatic sectional Views similar to Figs. l` and 2, illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.`

Referring first to Figs. l1to`4, the illustrated tooth brush includesa base handle member l made of suitable rigid material' and formed with a longitudinal groove 2 in orie flat side thereof, desirably of the dovetail shape shown in sectional contour in Fig. 3. An end portion 3`of the handle base'mcmber4 1 is formed asa fiat supporting table' flush with'the bottom surface of groove 2, for supporting thebristle assembly thereon as presently described. The bristle supporting assemblyin the present construction comprisesfa pair of laminated or parallel spaced flexible strip elements llczmand 4b, formed with registering perfo-rationsy in which the tufts of bristles, schematicallyindicated by singlelines 11, are inserted, being passed freely through apertures formed through the upper element lb and lle'rribedded in the lower element 4a. The flexible bristle support assembly 4 has its forward endiitted in a socket member 5 secured to the table portion of the handle member l by means o-f a tenen-like projection deug'aging a notch or mortise 7 formed inthe portion"3 near the front end thereof. The rear end ofthe assemblydis inserted into a recess formed in the front end surface of the flexible rod member S having a trap'ezoidal cross section as shown in Fig. 3, for sliding en'gagernent'in the dovetail groove of member l. The rod niemberfd has itsrear end formed as a rearwardly projecting tongue 9`adapted in the normal condition of the tooth brush 'to rest upon the upper surface ofV a` shoulder 10` provided at the rear end of the memberlt, but being biased by its inherent resiliency in a downward udirectionsoA as `tqabut with its end against the front en'd'ofsai'd shoulder, when pushed forward as in the condition shown in Fig.`2. Operation is as follows:

With thetooth brus'h'iri the normal or at condition shown in Fig. 1, Wheii'it is'desired to impart the convex configuration shown inl Fig. 2, ythe tongue portion 9 of rod `8 is pushed 'forward as by thumb action until the rear end of the portion 9 has slidoff thetop vsurface of the shoulder portion lil', whereupon fthe tongue snaps downwards into the abutting position shown in' Fig. 2, the rod 8 sliding in the'dovetail groove of themembe'r ll. The flexible rod may be made of any-suitable material, such as Plexiglas or other suitable plastic for example, While the supporting portion tsecured tothe front end of the rod is arranged to possess substantially greater resiliency than the rod; for this purpose'the support d may either be made with a smaller cross sectionalY area than 'the rod, and/ or it maybe formed from' a material having greater inherent elasticity than the material of which the rod 3 is made. Thus .under the effect of the lirnited'forward displacement of the rear end of rod 8, the support 4 is made to Ibuckle `and assume the convex shape shown, while theintermediate portion of rod 8 is also made slightly convex, and stands outwardly of the adjacent surface lof the, base member ll. In order to return the brush to its fiat condition, it is simply necessary to exert pressure on the` intermediate portion of rod 8, whereupon the rear projection 9 will be raised sufficiently to reengage the top'surface" of shoulder it), and the resiliency of the parts 8?-4 will then cause the rod o to shift rearward along the dovetail groove and to return to the hat unstressed condition ofFigL l. y A

Preferably the bristlesupporting portion 4 is so constructed as to counteract the natural tendency ofthe bristlesto diverge in the' convexcondi'tion of the support.

Fig. 5 showsone such'construction wherein the lower strip da of thel support has the'rocts'of thetufts 11 sealed in spaced apertures i3 therein while the upper strip lb tles 11 are secured in a is formed with through apertures 12 of upwardly flared configuration. The bottom ends 12a of these apertures 12 are substantially equal in cross section to that of the apertures 13 and are arranged in registry therewith in the flat condition of the assembly. The upper ends 12b of apertures 12 on the other hand are so positioned and dimensioned that in the convex condition illustrated in Fig. 5 the sides of the apertures will constrain the tufts to retain a substantially parallel vertical relationship as illustrated. Thus, a central or central ones of the tufts lengthwise of the brush will extend through the central aperture 12 without being distorted by either wall thereof; the tufts to one side-e. g. right-of said central tutt will be distorted and applied against the left wall of the related apertures 12 to be held vertical thereby, while the tufts to the other side` i. e. left. will be oppositely deflected and applied against the right walls of the apertures so that thev too are maintained vertical.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the brislower support strip 4a similar to strip 4a of the first embodiment; the upper strip 4b here comprises a thin base strip portion 14 having a series of spaced, transversely extending ribs projecting down- Wards therefrom and formed with apertures 16. as visible in Figs. l6 Vand 7. for the free passagetherethrough of the tufts of bristle. When a convex curvature is imparted to the lower strip 4a", the upper strip will vtend to assume a ladder-like configuration, especially marked at the end portions of the strip, as shown in Fig. 6. with each block 15 retaining a substantially vertical condition so as to keep the tufts correspondingly vertical. This effect is easily understood if one section of the assembled strips 4a. 4b" and two neighboring bristle tufts 11 is considered as a oarallelogram a-b-cd as indicated in Fia. 6. In stretched position of the strips. similar to that of Fig. l. this parallelogram would have right angles at all four corners, a. b, c, d. As soon as the strip 4a" 1s bent to a curve, the rectangular narallelosram s necessarilv distorted into a rhombus or rhomboid a-b-c`d as shown in Fig. 6. However, since the elements forming the sides of the parallelogram are not pivotally connected, the thin sections 14 of strip 4b" and the bristles (between strip 4a" and the ribs 15) are forced to slightly lbend or kink as shown. According to a modified or simplified version of the invention. as shown by Figs. 8 and 9, a single supporting strip or element 4 may be used for the bristles instead of the two spaced elements 4a, 4b disclosed hereinabove, and the bristle tufts 11 may be inserted in said strip so as to have slightly converging relationship when in the fiat condition of the support (Fig. 8), sufficient to compensate for the tendency to divergence occurring when the support is made to assume its convex arcuate shape, so that the bristles will be substantially parallel in the latter condition (Fig. 9).

All of the overlying strips, forming the bristle supporting element, arranged independently from one another, are made of the same material so that their curvature angle will be the same; or each of them may be from a different material than the others, showing thus another curvature angle than the others, which increases from the lower to the upper strip, causing the disappearance of the divergence which might affect the bristle tufts.

In the form of the invention employing two separate supporting strips Such as 4a and 4b, both strips are preferably encased or embedded in a suitable flexible mass of material such that it will not interfere with the relative flexing of the strips and the movement of the bristles. This will improve the external aspect of the assembly and will facilitate cleaning of the brush.

While a few exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to the accompanying` drawings, it will be understood that many departures may be made from the constructional details illustrated and 4 described, in addition to the modifications mentioned above.

It will be noted that in the illustrated embodiments, the brushing assembly comprising the flexible support with the bristles supported thereby is readily detachable from the holder assembly. Thus, in the construction of Figs. 1 and 2, the said assembly is easily removable by pulling the tenon 6 out of its mortise 7, and then withdrawing the brushing assembly from the rod 8. However, accidental removal of the assembly will not be liable to occur during use of the toothbrush, since it will be seen that pressure exerted on the brush from the top thereof will tend to keep the parts in assembled relationship, because of the trapezoidal Cross-section of both rod and groove.

While the illustrated conditions of the brushing surface have been described as flat and convex respectively, it will be understood that other relationships may be achieved by applying the teachings of the invention.

The invention moreover is not necessarily restricted to tooth-brushes, but may be applied where desired to other types of brushes, e. g. hairbrushes or the like.

What I claim is:

l. A toothbrush, comprising, in combination, an elongated support member having first stop means at one end thereof and second stop means spaced longitudinally from said first stop means, said elongated support member being formed with a longitudinal groove adjacent said second stop means and spaced from said first stop means; a flexible member having a first end portion spaced from said first stop means and axially slidable in said elongted groove, an intermediate portion axially and transversely movable in said elongated groove, and a second end portion axially and transversely movable relative said support member; and brush means including a resilient base member having one end connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, a plurality of tufts of bristles having root portions fixedly connected to said base member, and resilient means connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and engaging said first stop means, said resilient means having a plurality of apertures permitting passage of the free end portions of said tufts of bristles therethrough and being adapted to engage intermediate portions of said tufts of bristles in such a manner that upon outward Vflexing of said base member into a convex position causing radial positions of the tuft root portions, the portions of said tufts outward of Said resilient means assume parallel positions with respect to each other in transverse direction of said support member, said flexible member, said base member, and said resilient means being movable relative to said support member between a first position in which they rest on said support member in unflexed condition and a second position in which Vsaid base member and said intermediate portion of said flexible member are flexed outwardly with respect to said support member, and said second end portion of said flexible member engages and is arrested by said second stop means.

2. A toothbrush, comprising, in combination, an elongated support member having first stop means at one end thereof and second stop means spaced longitudinally from said first stop means, said elongated support member being formed with a longitudinal groove adjacent said second stop means and spaced from said first stop means; a flexible member having a first end portion spaced from said rst stop means and axially slidable in said elongated groove, an intermediate portion axially and transversely movable in said elongated groove, and a second end portion axially and transversely movable 'relative said support member; and brush means including a first resilient base member having one end convnected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, a

assa, r11' plurality of. tufts ofb'ristles having root portions xedly connected to saidfirst' base" member, t andresilieiitt means including a second resilient baseV member Having' one end connectedlto' said first end portion" of said'fixibl member and the other endengaginggsaidfirst'stop means, said second base member being formedwith'a-plurality of apertures fiaring outwardly from saidfirst base member permitting passage of therfree end" portions" of said tuftsv of bristles through saidv second base memberI in such a manner that upon outward flexing of said base members said second base member. engages intermediate portions of said tuftsv of bristlesL causing said tufts" to assume parallel positions with respect'toteach other in transverse direction of said supportmemb'er, saidflexible member and said base members being movablev relative to said support member between a` first position in which theyrest on said support'member in unflexed condition and a second position inwhich saidA base" members and said intermediate portion of said' exib'le member are liexed outwardly with respect to said'support'fmemb'er, and said second end portion iof said fiexible'member en'- gages and-is arrested -by` said secondstopmea'ns.

3. A toothbrush, comprising, in combination, an elongated support member havin'grst stop means at one end thereof and second stop. means'spaced longitudinally from said first stop means, said eiongatedsupport'member being formed with a longitudinalV groove adjacent said second stop means andspacedfrom said first'stop means; a fiexible member having a first end, portion spaced from said first stop meansand axially slidable in said elongated groove, an intermediateporti-on axially and transversely movable in saidelong'ated groove, and a second end portion axially and transversely movable relative said support member; and brush means including a first resilient base member having one end connected to said first end portion ofosaiddiexiblekmember and the other end engaging said first stop means, aiplurality of tufts of bristles havingroot portions iixedly connected to said first base member spaced a first set of distances apart thereon, and a second resilient base member spacedfrom said-first member and*Y having fone end connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, said second base member being formed with a plurality of apertures daring outwardly from said first base member and opposed to said root portions to permit passage of the free end portions of said tufts of bristles through said second base member in such a manner that upon ontward flexing of said base members said second base member engages intermediate portions of said tufts of bristles causing said tufts to assume parallel positions with respect to each other in transverse direction of said support member, said fiexible member and said base members being movable relative to said support member between a first position in which they rest on said support member in unfiexed condition and a second position in which said base members and said intermediate portion `of said fiexible member are iiexed outwardly with respect to said support member, and said second end portion o-f said fiexible member engages and is arrested by said second stop means.

` 4. A toothbrush, comprising, in combination, an elongated support'member having first stop means at one end thereof and second stop means spaced longitudinally from said first stop means; said elongated support member being formed with a longitudinal groove adjacent said second stop means and spaced from said first stop means; a flexible member having a first end portion spaced from said rst stop means and axially slidable in said elongated groove, an intermediate portion axially and transversely movable in said elongated groove, and a second end portion axially `and transversely movable relative said support member; and brush means including a first resilient base member having one end' connected to said first end portion of said flexible member' and the other end engaging'said first'stlop means, a'plurality of tufts ofl bristies having rootporti'ons fixdly'conne'cted to said first base member, andresilie'nt means including a second resilient base member having one end connected to saidfirst end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first' stopmeans, said second base member having a resilient sheet portion and a plurality of projections extending from said sheet portion in the direction of said roottportions, said projections being formed with a plurality of apertures permitting passage therethrough of the free end'portions of said tufts, said sheet portiorrofA said second'bas'e member being flexible to a curve of greaterradius than is said firstbase member so that the portions of 2s'aid tufts outward of said second base member assume positions parallel to each other when said base members are outwardly flexed, said flexible member and said base member being movable relative to said supportmember between a first position in which they rest on said Vsupport member inv unfiexed condition and a second position in whichl said base members and said intermediate-'vportionof said fiexible lmember are flexed outwardly'with respect tosaidsupport member, and said second end portion of saidflexiblemember engages and is arrested by said'second stop1 means.

5l A toothbrush,- comprising, in combination, an elongated support member having rst stop means at one end thereof and secondstop means spaced longitudinally from said first stop means, saidelongated support member being formed with a longitudinal groove adjacent said second stop means and spaced from said first stop means; a flexible member having a first end portion spaced from said first stop'` means and axially slidable in said elongated groove, an intermediate portion axially and transversely movable in Vsaidelongated groove, and a second end portion'axially and'transver'selymovable relative said support member; and brush Vmeans including a first resilient base member'having oneend vconnected to said first end portion of-said iiexiblemember and the other end engaging said firststopl means, a plurality of tufts of bristles yhaving-"root portionslfixedly connected to said first base member, and :resilient 'means including a second resilient base member having one end connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, said second base member being spaced from said first base member and having a resilient sheet portion and a plurality of transversely extending ridges projecting from said sheet portion in the direction of said first base member, said ridges being formed with a plurality of apertures permitting passage therethrough of the free end portions of said tufts, said sheet portion of said second base member being fiexible to a curve of greater radius than is said first base member so that the portions of said tufts outward of said second base member assume positions parallel to each other when said base members are outwardly liexed, said flexible member and said base members being movable relative to said support member between a first position in which they rest on said support member in unexed condition and a second position in which said base members and said intermediate portion of said flexible member are flexed outwardly with respect to said support member, and said second end portion of said flexible member engages and is arrested by said second stop means.

6. A toothbrush, comprising, in combination, an elongated support member having first stop means at one end thereof and second stop means spaced longitudinally from said first stop means, said elongated support member being formed with a longitudinal groove in one surface portion thereof adjacent said second stop means and spaced from said first stop means, said longitudinal groove having a dovetail cross-section flaring from said one surface portion; a tiexible member having a first end portion spaced from said rst stop means and axially slidable in said elongated groove, an intermediate portion axially and transversely movable in said elongated groove, and a second end portion axially and transversely movable relative said support member, said flexible member being of dovetail cross-section corresponding to that o-f said longitudinal groove; and brush means including a first resilient base member having one end connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, a plurality of tufts of ybristles having root portions fixedly connected to said first base member, and resilient means including a second resilient base member having one end connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, said second base member being formed with a plurality of apertures flaring outwardly from said first base member permitting passage of the free end portions of said Y tufts of bristles through said second base member in such a manner that upon outward flexing of said base members said second base member engages intermediate portions of said tufts of bristles causing said tufts to assume parallel positions with respect to each other in transverse direction of said support member, said flex ible member and said base members being movable relative to said support member between a first position in which they rest on said support member in unflexed condition and a second position in which said base members and said -intermediate portion of said flexible member are flexed outwardly with respect to said support member, and said second end portion of said flexible member engages and is arrested by said second stop means.

7. A toothbrush, comprising, in combination, an elongated support member having first stop means at one end thereof and second stop means spaced longitudinally from said first stop means, said elongated support member being formed with a longitudinal groove in one surface portion thereof adjacent said second stop means and spaced from said first stop means, said longitudinal groove having a dovetail cross-section flaring from said one surface portion; a flexible member having a first end portion spaced from said first stop means and axially slidable in said elongated groove, an intermediate portion axially and transversely movable in said elongated groove, and a second end portion axially and transversely movable relative said support member, said flexible member being of dovetail cross-section corresponding to that of said longitudinal groove; and brush means including a first resilient base member having one end connected to said first end portion of said flexible mem- ,ber and the other end engaging said first stop means, a

plurality of tufts of bristles having root portions fixedly connected to said first base member, and resilient means including a second resilient -base member having one end connected to said first end portion of said flexible member and the other end engaging said first stop means, said second base member having a resilient sheet portion and a plurality of projections extending from said sheet portion in the direction of said root portions, said projections being formed with a plurality of apertures permitting passage therethrough of the free end portions of said tufts, said sheet portion of said second base member being flexible to a curve of greater radius than is said first base member so that the portions of said tufts outward of said second base member assume positions lparallel to each other when said base members are outwardly flexed, said flexible member and said base members being movable relative to said support member be- `tween a first position in which they rest on said support member in unflexed condition and a second position in which said base members and said intermediate portion of vsaid flexible member are flexed outwardly with respect to said support member, and said second end portion of said flexible member engages and is arrested by said second stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,003,243 Campbell et al. May 28, 1935 2,111,880 Waters Mar. 22, 1938 2,429,437 Walker Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,546 Great Britain of 1838 

